Window control mechanism



July -10, 1945. J. H. Rol-:THEL v 2,379,922.;

' WINDOW CONTROL MECHANI SM Filed Oct. 3, 1940' 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR July l0, 1945. J, H, ROETHEL 2,379,922

WINDOW CONTROL MECHANI SM Filed oct. 5,-1940 sheets-sheet 2 @i FM L Patented July 10, `1945 STATES PATENT oFFlcE 2,379,922 WIN" 'iJ'W eNTRoL SM v jjtim-f 'nl Roethij, neteit, what., designar te poration, Detroit, Mich.;`

4corpo'iatizm fof Michigan i i App'lieafitn october 3, 194e, serial No. 359,520 v 13 classe iron 29H f' s) i this invention rei-ates te window control mechanism'; :particularly although not exclusively adapted for use in connection with vehicles and especially ,automobiles In general the invention contemplates the previsionof` improved means fofgulding the windowpanel inthe desired path, usually infab vertical direction in connection with the principa/lwindews of present day automobll'Sl i Another ebject'eftne-i-,invention is te provi-de guiding means for' guidingthe window panel, such guiding'rmeansincluding improved `guide devices or roller guide devices cooperable with iredwgiuides within the window weiland effective notonly tohold the' window panel against any appreciable tilting its planebut also to reduce of theparel; minimizing the further objedtof the `invention is to provide improved guiding-fmeansfcr the window glass or panel which nay be arranged below and near t'heceter of the panel, the improved construction 'of the' guiding means `being such as to hold tnefwin'dw panel for" travel `in-a straight line path again-st 'any materifal't'edncy to tilt or cock Aor shift' transtrs te' its plane'.

It is `also' 'objet'f f tHe invention to provide improvdroller'guide' mechanism `for a sliding well are no Ventron wili appear in and appended lairns,

u gs forming' part ftliisA spedication wherein like reference characters' designate correspondingnparts finthe several views?.

isarr inner fragmentary side elevation,A

partly brokenaway andjpartlyjin section, of an automobile door embodying the-inv en-tien.V

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation description Aand not of limitatiorr,

substantially thmug'h lines 4,- 4 tf` iimstrating tte;teniet` tagliate; and the ripper portion @fthe window guidemeehanism.

in tri direction er the; arrests.

-larged ho v"intal section taken Fig. 2. 106kiiigvin the direction of the arrows.` y V1 Fig. 5 is!l an enlarged h'oiiontal section taken substantially through lines 5115er" Fig. 2 looking in the direction of tharr'owsl .Figi- Gis' a enlarged vrticalsectiontalen Substa/IliallilV thrdugh lines 6-.6 f Fig. 2 llliokirl'g` in the direction of the arrows. i l

Fig. 7 is an enlarged horizontal sectiomtaken substantiallythrough lines 'lp-.4l of 2 looking in the diretion of the arrows. l i

` lfig,u 8 is `a view of the snap-on washer;V l

Before explaining in detailthe ,present inven` tion it is to be understood thatuthe `invexitionis not limited in -its application to the `details of construction andarrangementofiparts illustrated' in the accompanying drawings, since the `inven-` l tion iscapable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out invarious ways. g Also it` is to be understood that the 4phifas eology lonterminology `employed herein is for the purpose `of In the drawings `there isiillustratecl acertain embodiment of the invention applied; by way of examplefto 'an automobile door,` such as a iront door of` anautomobile: It will be' umlerstood,l howeven that the embodiment herein exemplified in part Aor 'in whole may loe-.used `in other relationsand in other windowstructures. `In `particular it wllfbe understood thatlthe guiding means and-the window `glass operating mecha-` nism may be utilized notonly con-jointlyas hereinshownY but also separatelyi, and these inay be used generally Vehicle bodies` or thelike ,n not onlyin connection with Window panels `which areadapted to be raised andlowered but'also window panels, such as 4the rear quarter windows of man automobile, `which `are adapted te l be shifted-,horizontally inte open and closed positions.` Where the illustrated structure used in fa Ahoriznitally movable rear quarter window panel it willfbe understood that the `partsfin gen-` eralwill be turned at rghtangles andsuitably attached to the lower edge of thefwindow panel for shifting it horizontally within the rear quarter` window opening.` l l i l v ,l

`In Figli there afi-ont door D oan lautn'lfn le includingfupf "lit side pillars lll and IA jind Hy a held l2',

dening av main window opening adapted to be closed in part by means of a vertically slidable glass or other transparent panel I3. In the present instance the remaining portion of the window opening is closed by means of a wing type panel |30 of conventional type, the panels I3 and |30 being separated by a vertical guide bar I3a which may either be attached to the forward edge of the panel I3 or fixed within the window opening to provide a guide for the corresponding edge of the panel I3 when raised and lowered. The window frame pillar II may be provided with a groove or glass runway channel I4, terminating at the bottom of the window opening and designed to receive the corresponding edge of the panel I3.

Secured to the lower edge of the glass panel I3 is a channel bar or glass retainer member I5 to which the window regulator is adapted to be connected. A depending angle member I3 having a top horizontal flange I3a is spot welded to the bottom of the retainer channel I5. A depending channel shaped carrier plate I1 is detachably secured to the angle bar I6. The channel carrier plate comprises longitudinally extending flanges I1a and I1b. The outer flange I1a has an -upper extension I1c provided with outwardly offset laterally extending flange portions I1cZ and 11e which are secured to the depending flange of` the angle bar I8 by means of screws I8 and I9. The screw I9, as shown in Fig. 2, is adjustable in a vertical slot 20 in the flange I'le, thereby permitting the window panel to be adjusted slightly in an angular direction with respect to the carrier plate I1.

The window panel I3 is guided in a generally vertical direction through the medium of roller guide devices cooperable with fixed upright channel guides mountedP entirely within the window well below the lower edge of the window opening. For this purpose a guide bracket 30 is attached as by means of spot welding to the cuter face of the inner door or body panel 3|. The guide bracket 30 has a central web 30a spot welded to the inner door or body panel 3l. It will be understood that in conventional practice the inner face of the door or body panel 3I is covered by a suitable trim panel or trim material 32 and that the space between the panel '3l and the outer door or body panel forms the socalled lwindow well into which the window panel I3 is shiftable and within which the operatingr and guiding mechanism for the panel is mounted.

The" guide bracket'30 lis shown in the form of an outwardly opening channel which terminates at opposite edges in rolled or vformed channel guides 33 and 34 arranged to open towards each other. The channel guide 34 has a central web 34a. and longitudinally extending parallel side flanges 34h which terminate in outwardly tapering or flaring portions 34e, one thereof merging 4into a side flange of the bracket 39. The channel guide 33 is correspondingly formed with a; central web 33a. and side flanges 33'b terminatinglin outwardly curved or a'ring portions 33c, one thereof merging into a side flange of the channel bracket 30. The edges 33c and 34e of theuchannel guides form parallel double tracks along which the rollerguide devices travel, as hereinafter described.

The window panel I3 through the medium of the carrier plate I1 is guided for up and down movement against any material tilting or cock'- ingmovement through the medium of a plurality of roller guide devices. In the present instance there are three of these roller guide devices, spaced vertically, and designated generally by the reference numerals 31, 38 and 39. Each roller device 31, 38 and 39 comprises spaced roller elements which are mounted at opposite outer faces of the flanges I1a and I1b of the carrier plate I1. The upper and lower roller devices 31 and 39are identical and each comprises spaced rollers 42,xed toa shaft 4I journalled in the flanges I1a and I1b of the carrier plate. Each roller 42 has a tapered or curved peripheral surface shaped substantially to the contour of the track edges 33c and 34o of the channel guides33 and 34, respectively. The rollers 42 I also have opposedmarginal annular flanges 42a 'projecting between the side flanges of the channel guides and overlapping the same so as to prevent transverse displacement of the roller devices, and hence, transverse displacement of the window panel during operation, and preventingA the rollers fromfjumping 'out or running off the tracks ofthe channel guides during operation. i i

The intermediate roller device 38 comprises spaced rollers43 of smaller diameter than the rollers 4 2. The rollers 43 are mounted td embrace opposite outer faces of the channeled carrier member I1 and are secured to a shaft 44 which is journalled in the flanges I1a and I`1b of the carrier plate. The shaft 44 has' an enlarged central portion grooved at 44aV to receivethe hooked end 45a of a constantly loaded spring 45. The opposite end 45h of the spring is hooked into an aperture in the central web of the channel I1,

the spring being provided with a suitable number of intermediate coils and being adapted to exert constant pressure on the shaft 44, thereby pressing the rollers'43 constantly against the tracks 33c of -the channel guide 33.` The peripheral faces of the rollers 43 are shaped to the contour of the track edges 33c,l and these rollers are provided with marginal flanges 43a extending between the side flanges of the channel guide 33 so as to hold the rollers atall times in tracking engagement with the 'channelfguide The shaft -44 `is permitted a `limited longitudinal movement with relation to the carrier plate I 1, `and for this purpose the flangesV Ila and I1b of the carrier plate are provided with lparallel longitudinal guidel slots 48 within which -the shaft 44 is shiftable. rThe enlarged central portion 44 of the shaft overlaps the edges of the guide slots and thus anchors the` rollers against transverse displacement.

Referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the rollers 42, of the guide device 31, and this also applies to the rollers of the lower guide device 39, have effective engagement normally -only with the parallel tracks 34o of the channel guide 34, there being slight clearance spaces 41 between these ,rollers .and the tracks 33c of the channel guide 33. The pressure of the rollers 43 against the channel guide 33 due to the spring 45 will normally hold the upper and lower rollers 42 against the tracks oredges of the opposite channel guide 34, ,the clearance spaces 41 preventing under such circumstances the upper and lower rollers from being cramped between the channel guides in such manner as to prevent them from rotating when the window panel is raised and lowered. If during operation of the window panel a` force is ex` erted thereon tending to shift the windowpanel longitudinally, toward the right in Fig. 3,'this action will be resisted by the spring pressed rollers 43. However, the panel can shift in its plane lonasrogoaa -gituuinally only ito thel extent for the clearances 4J, iatrwhich 'timethefirllers '42 'will track l:along Ythe `edges of 'the channel fguide 33. `ntnoitime will the upper and Ll'ower rollers 3J `and '3.91 track effectively with the edgeslof :both 'channel .guides soas'to :prevent:rreemotationi'of the rollers.

edges of the guideslot Vare pressed `inwardly to It will be seen that the vertically spacederrangement of `the 4roller guide `devices along `the channeliiguides will hold the windowzglassagaiinst any material tilting or cooking in itsplane, the clearances l4:1 being 'insuiicient to permit `any material or noticeablextiltmg movement; In the 'event the glass tends .to `tilt lin 'itszplanelthis will `be limited :to Athe :slight distance required for one of lthe rollers 31, "39 to-:move `from one; yguide 'to i theuothen `Inlsucli `caseone of xthese.roller's will "travel `alongkone guide `and `the other. roller 'will travel along theother guidei In otherzwords the slight` normal clearance between rollers`3f1.. 39'

and guide 33, will permit slight relative movement longitudinally `ci 'these rollers about the intermediate roller 38 which vwill .yield suiliciently to` permitrollers 31and 39 ftolmove topositions in which they will travel Lon. .both guides;

. `In the present instance the" windowpanel `.is raised and lowered through the yin'ediurn:ofia winprovide conical portions to receive thewasher 68, the edges of the guide slot being `rolled `to provide bearings for the` portion 65 of the studGS. 'I'he flange llb of the carrier `plate also has aguide slot 1I a parallel to and" in line With the slot 1| and through which the studc extends.` The stud is :locked within the guide slots 1l and 1 la through the medium of a snap-on washer` 12. This `washer comprises awspring `steel disk 13 embraced around its peripheral edge 'by a `ring like grooved reinforcingmember 14. The washer 13 is provided with` ared or tapered springngers `orprongs 15 terminating in a generallycircular opening of Iless diameter than the head 51 of the stud. s

The window regulator `may be readily installed and connected to the carrier plate I1 by springing `the arm `5.1 away from the flange lla. ofthe plate,

lining up the stud `[i3 `with the guide slots 1l :and

lla, and :then shifting thestud through these slots to the positionshown in Fig. `o. fl'he .arm 51 is then forced inwardly slightly` against the presl sure of the springS andthe `washerl'Z `is `forced dow regulator comprising ran operating arm con- `nected to the carrier plate |-1 `at-.a pointbetween the upperiroller -device -31 and the intermediate spring pressed roller .device -38. The illustrated Window regula-tor comprises` Va pressed metal mountingplate 48 havingiscrew bosses-ortho like @thy which the ymounting plate `may beksecured s fby screws to the face of the inner door or body panel :3l within the window well` Aysectorwgear 50 isjsecuredA to a pivotstud 5I journalled inthe mounting; plate. This ,gear is -`trota-ted through the medium `of a .pinion 45l.` carried by a handle and 'spaced `from `.the channel .guides and Aroller` guide devices.

This arm"s of elbow construction `having a `depending right angle extension `58 vto the endof which is .pivoted at l5l) a control link- 60 pivoted `at itsinner end atl to fthemounti-ng plate 48 at apredetermined or selected point 4below the pivot 5l of lthe gear `50 and driving arni `34. A i o suitable counte'rbalancing spring-62 ofthespirally wound type 'is secured at its inner end to the stud "Stand 'at' its outer end to a lug-struck outifrom the mounting plate .48. This spring vis constlllled t0 `slib`stel`.l1 tla.l1y weight ofthe window'panel I3. o The `outer -end of the armi?! ispivota-llyconnec'ted to the carrier plate l1. at asinglepoint through t'lie medium of a transverse stud 63 riveted toene end' of the arm; This stud 'has two diameters Stand. 65 and terminates ina-rounded nose orfhead 61 separated from theulargerdiameter by an annular groove 66. o

Slidabl upon 'the'.portion- `64 ofthe stud isa conical type washerl68` recessed to receive oneend of a compression spring 69, the springlbeing interposed between the washer `andtlfieend of the `arm 51.` `The stud 63 extends through a short horizontally extondingzgu-ideislot 1| .in theflange 11o of the carrier plate. `The upper fand .lower l Pivotedat to -the outer end of the arrn '54 is .a relativelyshort swinging :arm 51.`

`counterbalance fthe 7.5" Where .the-side edges `of .the

.forside edgeguides for the glass. spaced roller guide devicesin `cooperation'with over the `end of the stud. `l'lhevprorigs 15 spring out lor spread as theypass over `the head 61,- and `then spring into the grooveili, thus lookingthe washer upon the-endof the studand ypreventing disengagementof theregulatorarm 51.` 1

`lrorn `the foregoing it" `will beiseen that` by virtue of the present invention `an extremely compact, simple, efficient `and economical window control mechanism has been provided which is practical for use,V particularly -in automobiles, and very easy to install. Vguides may be arranged in the `well substantially at the center of the window glassfand no ylonger is there `need rllhe `vertically the :channel Vguides hold the `window `for travel in substantially a straight line path. Not only does `the support :for the rolleridevices afford a connection `for `the window regulator `liutthe construction permits `a `single 4qoont operative `connection for the regulator. The regulator in lturn is `constructedso that `the single `point of` connectiont with the roller Aguide carrier, travels vertically 'in a `very nearly `straight line; The slight; longitudinal travel ofthestudES in the slot .Hintermediate the `halfway positionsand the upper and lower limits `is insumo-isnt to `:produce `any `appreciable drag on the window pan-e1` which would ldevices 31, land 139 produce undue friction on tlieguidesi Thus, it

is possible,v by `reasonof `the invention, to reduce the cost as wellvas the weight of the entire win;- dow control mechanism.

Great ease and simplicity is also achieved in installation. The window regulator, the `guides and 34, the carrierplate with theroller guide y are all installed :orimounted within the window well and the regulator 'connected to thelcarrier `l1 before it is necessary to installv the window panel t3, `This `panel .may be` 'installed by tilting `it into rthe .windows` opening slot along thelower edge of the window opening. Itmay bewquickly attachedto `tlfle'icarrier plate `l1 by means` of Athe lscrews I8` andl i9 and at"tl1e `sanne time lined up accurately by reason of the .doors `on lthe assembly line'.

adjusting slot 2i). .An important advantage re `and dropping the lower edgevdown lthrough'the guides, as heretofore, the glassfrequently breaks, when the doors are warped or bent into place on the line. "Such breakage is substantially eliminated by virtue of the present guide structure.

i 1. A guideV structure for a window panel mounted for sliding movement in a window of a Cil vehicle body having awell and a pair of spaced t upright guides in said well each having transversely spaced tracks,l a guide roller device adapted to be mounted to the lower edge of the panel fortravel between said guides and having its axis of rotation extending transversely to the plane of the panel, said roller device including transversely spaced peripheral portions having rolling engagement with the spaced tracks of one edge of the panel fortravel Vbetween said guides and having their axes of rotation extending transversely to the plane ofthe panel, each roller device 'including transversely spaced peripheral portions having rolling 'engagement with the spaced tracks of one or the other oisaid guides, and resilient -means interposed between said roller devices and normally urging the same into positions to cause said roller devices to trave1 on the tracks of one upright guide but yieldable to permit relative movement of said roller devices' into positions to travel on the tracks of both guides. v

3. A guide structure for a window panel mounted for sliding movement in a window of a vehicle Lbody having a well and a pair'of spaced upright guides in said well each having transversely spaced tracks, a guide roller device adapted to be mounted to the lower edge `of the panel for travel between said guides yand having its axis of rotation extending transversely to the plane of the panel, said roller device including transversely spaced peripheral portions having rolling engagement with the spaced tracks of one or the other of said guides, and resilient means normally urging said guide roller` device into position to travel on the tracks `of one upright guide but yieldable to permit said guide roller to travel on the tracks ofthe other guide, said resilient means comprising a spring pressed roller having their axes of rotation extending transversely to `the plane of the panel, each roller device including transversely spaced peripheral portions having rolling engagement with the spaced tracks of one or the other of said guides, and resilient means interposed between said roller devices and normally urging the same into positions to cause said roller devices to travel on the tracks of 4one upright guide but yieldable to permit relative movementof said roller devices into positions to travel on the tracks of both guides, said resilient means comprising a spring pressed rollerdevice having transversely spaced peripheral portions adapted to travel on the tracks of one of said guides.,` Y 1 5. A1 guide structure fora window panel mounted for sliding movement in-a window of a vehicle body having arwell and a pair o'f spaced upright'guides in said well each having transversely lment with the spaced tracks of one or theother of said guides, resilientmeans normally urging said guide roller device into'position totravl on the tracks of one uprightguide but yieldable to permitsaid guide rollerto travel on the tracks of the otherv guide; and a carrier lfor said roller device attachable tothe lower` edge of thepanel and extending between the spaced peripheral'portions offsaidroller device`.` I

f 6. A guide Vstructure fora Window panel mountedfor sliding movement in a window of a vehicle body having a well and a pair of spaced upright guides in Asaid well V`each having transversely spaced tracks, vertically yspaced guide roller devices adaptedto be mounted to the lower edge of the panel forA travel between said guides and having their axes of rotation extending transversely tothe plane ofthe panel, eachrollerdevice includingy transversely spaced peripheralportions 'having rolling engagement with the spaced tracks of one or the other of said guides, resilient means interposed between said roller devices and normallyurging the same into positions to cause said roller devices to travel on the tracks ofone upright guide but yieldable to permit relative movement of saidroller devices into positions to travel on the tracks of both guides, and acarrier for said roller devices attachableto the lower edge of vthe panel and "extending between the Yspaced peripheral portions of said roller devices.

7. 'A guide structure for a window panel mounted for sliding` movement in a window of a vehicle bodyhaving a well and a pair of spaced upright guides in 'said well "each, having transversely spaced trackspa guide roller device adapted to be mounted Ato the lower edge ofthe panel Vfor travel between said guides and having itsv axisr of rotation extendingtransversely` to the plane of the panel, said roller device includingtransversely spaced peripheral portions having rolling engagementvwith the spaced tracks of `onefor the other offsaid guides, resilient `means normally urging said guide roller device vinto position to travel on the tracks of one upright' guide but nspacedl' tracks, 'vertically spaced guide roller` "devices adapted to be mounted to the lower edge ofthe panel for travel between said guides and having their axes of rotation extendingQtransversely to the plane of the panel, each roller de` vice including transversely spaced peripheral `portions having rolling engagement with the spaced tracks of one or the other of said guides, resilient means normally urging said roller devices into positions to cause each roller device to travel onthe tracksof one upright guide but yieldable `topera mit either of said roller devices to travel on `the tracksof the other guide, saidresilient means comprising a spring `pressed roller device having transversely spaced peripheral portions adapted to travel on the tracks of one of said guides, and a carrier for said roller devices attachable tothe lower edge of the panel andextending between the spaced peripheral portions of said roller devices. a

9. A roller guide structure for a, sliding window mounted `on said carrier and each including 2;

transversely spaced peripheral portions on opposite sides of the carrierhaving rolling engagement with the spaced vtracks of one guide.`

11. A` roller guide structureior a sliding window panel comprising two spaced upright chan--` nel guides each having transversely spaced tracks, a roller guide carrier extending between `said guides in the longitudinal plane thereofya roller guide device mounted on said carrier and including .transversely spaced peripheral portions on opposite sides of the `carrierxhaving rolling l `engagement with the spaced tracks of one guide,

`and resilient means on the carrier urgingthe guide device into engagement with one guide but `yieldalole to permit its rolling engagement with the other guide.

12. A` Window` control mechanism for al win' dow panel mounted `for sliding movement in a window having a well and a pair of spaced upright guides with guide flange means extend-` ing longitudinally in the direction of the plane of the `window panel, a carrier attachable toi-the lower edge of the panel and extending between said spaced flange means, spaced guide devices 'on said carrier each having engagement with the flange means of one guide, `each guide device having `spaced vflangeportions overlapping two sidesof` the ilange means of a guide andsaid` devices having tracking portions contactingthe outer edgespof the flange means.`

13. A window control mechanism for a window M panel mounted forsliding movement in a window i having a well and a pair of spaced upright guides of the flange means.

with guide flange means extending `longitudinally inthe direction of .the planetof the window panel, a carrier attachable to the lower edge `-of the )panel and extending adjacent said spaced flange means, spaced guide devices fon said carrier each having engagement with the flange means of one guide, each guide device having spaced ilange portions overlapping two sides of the flange means of a guide and said devices having tracking portions contacting the outer edges w JOHN H. ROETHEL. 

